The Arizona sentinel., 1887-05-14
A NEW TELEPHONE.
Interesting Experiments Made Recently
 Between Paris and Brussels.

!
 Between Paris and Brussels.
 Twas invited to be present recently
 at some telephone experiments between
 Paris and Brussels with new ap-
 paratus known as the "micro-telephone
 push-button. These experiments,
 which were made on behalf of the two
 telegraphic administrative depart
 ments of France and Belgium, produced
 a very lively impression on those pres
 ent, and believe the new apparatus
 to be the most perfect yet produced.
 As its name indicates, it has the form
 of an ordinary electric push-button. [ When the button has been pushed in,
 and has made a sound at the other ex-
 tremity, it is taken out, and is found to
 be attached to a long electric wire.
 There is thus exposed the telephonic
 plate, which is extremely sensitive, so that where it is necessary to speak at short distances it is not necessary to come close to the instrument For street or in the same house, the operator places the upper part near himself, and without changing his position he can speak with the correspondent at the opposite extremi- ty. He is not obliged to put his ear to the part which contains the button and brings back the reply. Thus for short distances those who make use of this apparatus speak in their ordinary tone, without changing their customary at- titudes. They may sit or walk about, and speak just as if those they are ad- dressing were present. When great distances intervene, as in the expert ments performed to-day, in which the speakers and hearers were separated by two hundred miles, it is necessary to come nearer to the apparatus, but without being obliged to speak quite close to it.
 But what makes this apparatus the most successful of telephonic instru- ments is, that it can be made for half crown-that is to say, for not more than the price of the ordinary push bALlOls 4NOhs do lD SdliA OC uOOCh OO bllO electric wire of the ordinary ringing apparatus, it follows that it introduces complete change in our ordinary modes of intercourse. At front doors, in the interior rooms of houses, everywhere in short, where the ordinary electric buttons are used, the telephone button may be introduced. It will by this means be possible to give or receive instructions, to know who is knocking at the door, to communicate in short, by speaking as well as by ringing. On the advantage of this in everyday life it is unnecessary to dwell. The railway companies are making experiments with this ap- paratus as means of communication between compartments of carriages. It is being fitted up on trial in hotels. I have seen it at work at the door of private house, where I was replied to by those within without their having stirred from their places, or without the door being opened. Between Paris and Brussels, this instrument, costing half a crown, worked with admirable precision, and it was not altogether without an eerie feeling that listened 10 a voice with a slight Belgian accent coming to me from distance ot more than two hundred miles.
 The inventor is Dr. Cornelius Herz, one day nominated grand officer of the Legion of Honor, next day described as an emissary of Germany, and lastly as the friend, adviser and confidant of General Boulanger. He is in reality an electrician whose inventive talent has been stimulated by his residence in America, where there is boundless demand for improvement in electrical apparatus and in all mechanical con- trivances. The French Minister of posts and telegraphs, under whose auspices the experiments were carried out, has approved the report made to him, and proposes to give orders for the introduction of the new apparatus into all the public administrative de- partments as soon as it comes into use, for as yet it has only been an experi- Cor London Times.